Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-02-23

WdS ny uO uedIS ullllluSlCdl. LII Oeu JC
whot got me, thought That part commenc-
ing: 'Suckamstances over which I've no con-
trout"
@oh, comel didn't say that" interrupted
Hale, laughing.
atDon't make it convenient for me to exer-
else the privilege of kickin' yer out to that
EXTENT" she continued; but if cannot
dispense with your room, the least can say
Is that it's id sight better than your COM
pany'-or suthin' like that And then the
way you minded your stops and let your
voice rise and fall jest ez easy ez if you wos
First Reader in large type. Why, the kernel
wasn't nowhere His cussin' didn't come
within mile O. yourn. That Stanner jist
turned yaller."
arm afraid you are laughing at me, said
Hale, not knowing whether to be pleased or
vexed at the girls amusement.
II reckon I'm the only one that dare do it.
them" said the girl, simply. 1.-THE kernel sez
the way you turned round after he'd done his
cussin', and said yer believed you'd stay and
take the responsibility of the whole thing
and did in that kan. soft, acknowledgement.
tome styie-was the neatest thing he'd seen
yet! No! Nav says amt much on man.
ners, but 1 know man when see him."
For an instant Hale gave himself up to the
delicious flattery of unexpected, unintended
and apparently uninterested compliment
Becoming at last little embarrassed under
the frank curiosity of the girls dark eyes he
changed the subject.
"Do you always come up here through the
stables" he asked, glan.ing round the room.
which was evidently her own.
II reckon" she answered, half abstract
edly. There's a ladder down thar to
maw's room"-pointing to a trap door be-
side the broad chimney that served US
wall-abut it's handler the other way, and
nearer the HOSES eff you want to get away
quick"
This palpable suggestion-borne out by
what he remembered of the other domestic
details-that the house had been planned
with reference to sudden foray or escape re-
awakened his former uneasy reflections.
Zeenie, who had been watching his face,
added, ats no slouch, when bar or painters
hang round nights and stampede the stock,
to be able to swing yourself on to boss,
whenever you hear row goin' on outside"
3Do you mean that you"-
@Paw used, and do now, sense I've come
into the room" She pointed to monde
script garment, half cloak, half habit, hang
ing on the wall. awe been outer bed and
on Philippines back as far ez the trail five
minutes arter heard the first below"
Hale regarded her with undisguised as
tonishment. There was nothing at all Anna
zonian or horsey in her manners, nor was
there even the robust physical contour that
might have been developed through such
experiences. On the contrary she seemed to
lazily eifeminate in body and mind Heed
less of his critica! survey Of her, she beck
oned him to d!aw his chair nearer, and,
looking into his eyes, said:
"Whatever rossessed you to take to huntin'
men?" ,..
Hale was htaggcred by the question, but
neverthelca, endeavored to explain. But hs
was surprised to find that his explanation ap
peared stilted even to himself, and, he could
not doubt, was utterly incomprehensible to
the girl She nodded her head, however, and
continued:
"Then you haven't anythin' agin' George"
II don't know George" said Hale, smiling.
aMy proceeding was against the highway
man."
"Well, he was the hichwayman."
II mean it was the principle objected to-
principle that consider highly dangerous"
"Well, he is the principal, for the others
only helped, reckon" said Zeenie, with
sigh, 'and reckon he is dangerous"
Hale saw it was useless to explain. The girl
continues:
What made you stay here instead Of go
in on with the kernel! There was suthin'
else besides you wanting to make that Stan
ner take water. What is it!"
A light sense of the propinquity of beauty,
of her confidence, of their isolation, Of the
eloquence of her dark eyes, at first tempted
Hale to reply of simple gallantry; a
graver consideration of the same circum-
stances froze it upon his lips.
II don't know" he returned awkwardly.
"Well, III tell you," she said. "You
didn't cotton to the Kernel and Rawlins
much more than you did to Stanner. They
amt your kind"
In his embarrassment Hale blundered upon
the thought lie had honorably avoided.
Suppose" he said, with constrained laugh,
II had stayed to see you"
II reckon I amt your kind, NEITHER" she
replied promptly. There was momentary
pause, when she rose and walked to the CHM
ney. ats very quiet down there" she said,
STOPPING and listening over the roughly
boarded floor that formed the ceiling Of the
room below. II wonder what's going on"
In the belief that this was delicate hint
for his return to the party he had left, Hale
rose, but the girl passed him hurriedly, and,
opening the door, cast quick glance into the
stable beyond.
Just as ! reckoned-the horses are gone
too They've skedaddled," Sue said, blankly.
Hale did not reply. In bis embarrassment
moment ago the idea of taking an equally
sudden departure had flashed upon him.
Should he take this as justification of that
impulse, or how! He stood irresolutely
gazing at the girl, who turned and began to
descend the stairs silently. He followed.
When they reached the lower room they
found it as they had expected-deserted
II hope didn't drive them away" said
Hale, with an uneasy look at the troubled
face of the girl "For really had an idea Of
going myself moment ago."
She remained silent, gazing out of the Win
dow. Then, turning with a slight shrug of
her shoulders, she said, half defiantly:
"What's the use now? Oh, maw the Stanner
crowd has vamosed the ranch, and this yer
stranger kalkilates to stay"
CHAPTER VII.
A week had passed at Eagles Court-a
week of mingled clouds and sunshine by day,